Dan Hurley says he will never again coach a player like Alex Karaban + what he told Rick Pitino recently

Jon Rothstein sits down with Dan Hurley to discuss UConn’s 27–3 season and what’s driving the Huskies as March approaches. Hurley reflects on his first March Madness memory, the different perspectives that come with championship expectations, and key moments from Alex Karaban’s development to this year’s “comeback” narrative. He breaks down UConn’s non-conference approach, whether the Big East should expand its schedule, the St. John’s matchup and potential rematch, and how this team compares to his recent title squads. Hurley also dives into the growth of Jaylin Stewart, Silas Demary Jr., Tarris Reed Jr., and Braylon Mullins, the importance of geography in the NCAA Tournament, lessons from past Final Fours, and what continues to fuel him as he chases another championship. 0:00 Intro 0:10 First March Madness memory 0:45 Different perspectives on March Madness 1:40 Alex Karaban moment 2:50 Karaban prototype in recruiting 4:00 How is UConn 27-3? 5:05 Non-conference in February 7:00 Should Big East go to 18-game conference sked?  8:30 St. John's matchup 9:30 Possible rematch vs. St. John's in conference tourney 12:00 "Comeback" this season 13:00 Comparing to title teams 14:55 This year's bench 16:30 Jaylin Stewart 16:55 Silas Demary Jr.  18:30 Tarris Reed Jr.  20:20 Importance of geography in NCAA Tournament 21:45 Making tournament at Rhode Island 23:45 Braylon Mullins 25:30 Thinking about another title 26:35 Final Four learnings 28:30 His driving force 31:00 Keys for UConn To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices